West Central Reporter

State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) recently professed her appreciation for the AIM High Grant Pilot Program because it focuses on retaining college students instead of just recruiting them. 

AIM High stands for Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education.  It provides assistance to eligible undergraduate students toward the cost of a full-time education at one of Illinois' 12 public universities.

“I am very encouraged to hear our universities speaking about retention,” Hammond said during a House Appropriations - Higher Education Committee hearing on Feb. 10. “For so many years it was about recruitment, recruitment, recruitment. And the retention end of it was never really addressed. I think that kudos to you and those who have seen that it's not just important to get the students in the front door but to send them back out the door with a degree is extremely important, so thank you for that.”

A list of eligibility requirements include, having attended an Illinois high school; being enrolled for the first time at the public university campus where the award will be granted, and residing in Illinois. 

According to its website, the AIM HIGH grant “is renewable and if you receive it once and continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you will be eligible to receive a renewal grant in subsequent years.”

During the hearing, Corey Bradford of AIM High told Hammond the program has two award amounts. “We have a top award amount of $6,000 per year for students who have a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher,” Bradford said. “Then we have a lower scholarship amount of $4,000 per year for students that have a GPA from a 2.75 up to a 3.5.”

Hammond also wanted to know how the program is promoted to students and the community.

“We definitely promoted through the high schools,” Bradford said. “it's included in our recruitment material to all students and parents. We utilize testimonies of recipients to share their stories and how they benefited from the scholarship program. So, it's taken an active communication and marketing strategy to promote that program.”

Bradford said demand for the program is growing. 

“We don’t have enough scholarships for the number of students that want to benefit from that program,” he said. “That's why we are definitely encouraging that we make this a permanent commitment for the state because it is working. Dollars talk and people walk to where the dollars are.”

According to the ISAC website, each university’s AIM HIGH grant program is described on the university’s website. Students can click on the name of the university they are planning to attend for complete information.